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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I initially gave this book 3 stars but the more I think about it, the less satisfied I am. The first two sections of the book are very interesting, concise and reasonable. I found them to be useful and in line with my prior knowledge of earlier Germanic history. However the third and largest section of the book slowly descends into anti-east-German propaganda, criticizing the eastern Germans for the way they vote as well as pretty much anything Hawes decides has gone wrong in German history. By the end of the book, especially after his plea to the reader to basically stop the geographical east Germany in its tracks, I had felt rather cheated. It seems that every prior bit of knowledge was thrown forth not to give a history of Germany but rather as Hawes' personal thesis that we are being cajoled into believing. This book, I'd suggest, is not what it claims to be.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Filled in a few gaps in my knowledge of the country. Very difficult to be thorough in such a short book, and so it cut corners on the bits that most people would know and focused instead on the dynamics within the country. A lot of the content is the views of author rather than cold hard facts, particularly around how toxic Prussia was and eastern Germany still remains. Too many generalisations for it to be a great book, but it rattles along and is a good primer to someone without a good working knowledge of German history.
Very good intro to German history - beginning can be tough to pick up
A very good book for an introduction to German history. It was pretty easy to read and had a lot of infographics to keep the reader interested. Since I am not very aware of German culture, I cannot comment on the conclusion of the book. But I can see why some people may find it skewed, as the conclusion is very black and white with not a lot of nuances. Nonetheless an interesting read.
3/5
This is a strange one. On the one hand, Hawes tells German history around a central assumption - a supposed, historical difference between East and West that dates as far back as Roman Times and an alleged clean political split along confessional lines - the likes of which I have never before come across in as clear a focus, and which bears at least some interesting ideas. However, especially towards the end he starts meandering and becomes increasingly obsessed with espousing his personal opinions of modern German politics, some of which are so simplistic and bodering on naïve I have a hard time imagining them going over well with German readers - especially those from the East. I can't help thinking that as an introductory work to German history this might leave you with some very, very weird ideas.
This is a strange one. On the one hand, Hawes tells German history around a central assumption - a supposed, historical difference between East and West that dates as far back as Roman Times and an alleged clean political split along confessional lines - the likes of which I have never before come across in as clear a focus, and which bears at least some interesting ideas. However, especially towards the end he starts meandering and becomes increasingly obsessed with espousing his personal opinions of modern German politics, some of which are so simplistic and bodering on naïve I have a hard time imagining them going over well with German readers - especially those from the East. I can't help thinking that as an introductory work to German history this might leave you with some very, very weird ideas.
informative
fast-paced
A very good little introduction into this great country which like all good introductions, will leave you wanting to know more.
Hawes teases out the thread that run through the history of the nation which has dominated European affairs since Caesar marched his legions into Gaul. The first is the concept of a true Germany, it falls between the Rhine and the Elbe, it was Roman first, then Charlemagne’s, it remained Catholic, was less keen on Hitler and was reformed post war as West Germany. The similarities between the borders of the Roman Germania and the West Germany of 1949-89 are remarkable.
The recent history of Germany begins with the gifting of the industrialised Rhineland, in the west, to the predominantly agrarian Prussia in the east. The ensuing two centuries is the story of Prussia appropriating the wealth of West Germany to pursue its disastrous ends. Even today the subsidies in Germany flow from West to East, but unlike the north/south divide in the UK or Italy, in Germany the tail seems to wag the dog. The relationship between the Germans may be well summed up by the German joke "Why are the Chinese so happy? Because they still have their wall.”
Hawes writes engagingly, striking the right balance between providing an overview and a detailed history. He also manages to avoid the trap which snares so many chroniclers of Germany, but not focusing overly on the comparatively brief Nazi period.
There are however a few superficial problems: The book continually draws analogies to modern events, suggesting that it may not age well. The debt burden in 1920’s Weimar is compared to Greece in the 2010’s and the desolation of the Thirty Years war to the current decimation of Syria. The book is also replete with maps which are quite hard to read and annoying bubbles of text which don’t add anything. We are, for example, told that an “Invincible Prussian army/Austro-Hungarian manpower + Invincible Royal Navy = Intercontinental checkmate”, which may be the grossest oversimplification you can read outside a poor GCSE essay. Quite why the publisher felt the need to include them is a mystery, particularly given that they are simply and eloquently explained in the surrounding prose.
It is however an introduction full of useful information and well worth reading. Your will learn something new.
Hawes teases out the thread that run through the history of the nation which has dominated European affairs since Caesar marched his legions into Gaul. The first is the concept of a true Germany, it falls between the Rhine and the Elbe, it was Roman first, then Charlemagne’s, it remained Catholic, was less keen on Hitler and was reformed post war as West Germany. The similarities between the borders of the Roman Germania and the West Germany of 1949-89 are remarkable.
The recent history of Germany begins with the gifting of the industrialised Rhineland, in the west, to the predominantly agrarian Prussia in the east. The ensuing two centuries is the story of Prussia appropriating the wealth of West Germany to pursue its disastrous ends. Even today the subsidies in Germany flow from West to East, but unlike the north/south divide in the UK or Italy, in Germany the tail seems to wag the dog. The relationship between the Germans may be well summed up by the German joke "Why are the Chinese so happy? Because they still have their wall.”
Hawes writes engagingly, striking the right balance between providing an overview and a detailed history. He also manages to avoid the trap which snares so many chroniclers of Germany, but not focusing overly on the comparatively brief Nazi period.
There are however a few superficial problems: The book continually draws analogies to modern events, suggesting that it may not age well. The debt burden in 1920’s Weimar is compared to Greece in the 2010’s and the desolation of the Thirty Years war to the current decimation of Syria. The book is also replete with maps which are quite hard to read and annoying bubbles of text which don’t add anything. We are, for example, told that an “Invincible Prussian army/Austro-Hungarian manpower + Invincible Royal Navy = Intercontinental checkmate”, which may be the grossest oversimplification you can read outside a poor GCSE essay. Quite why the publisher felt the need to include them is a mystery, particularly given that they are simply and eloquently explained in the surrounding prose.
It is however an introduction full of useful information and well worth reading. Your will learn something new.
A sprint through 2000 or s0 years of German history that advances the theory that there are, and always have been, two Germanies; a Western and Southern part as far as the river Elbe and an Eastern part from the Elbe into the wilds of modern Poland and Lithuania. The Western part is an integral part of Europe whilst the wilder, lest prosperous part is forever haunted by threats from the East.
The ancient foundations of the German nation thus give some insights into it behaviour since unification in 1871.
The ancient foundations of the German nation thus give some insights into it behaviour since unification in 1871.
Starting as wild barbaric tribes on the East side of the Rhine to being the foremost European leader; surely a worthy tale.
Having studied German history for some time and being a German myself, I found this book very interesting. It give you a good overview of the most significant events in the central European history, which have forged the modern nation Germany.
The book contains some very interesting ideas and perspective on the German history. Surely the Rhine-Elba-East Elbia theory is worth a thought and surely has some truth to it. Also the approach on Prussian history and declive, the depth of the German society and the analysis on why the NS-State could exist and how this all has influence on the modern dynamic of Germany are well documented and interesting. Worth a read for sure.
I do not fully agree with the last thesis of the book. Seeing the Wiedervereinigung as a bad decision and something to reverse is surely more a radical left/right idea than a democrats approach. Using history to revise this is more in the camp of revisionist ideas than a modern democrat.
The book is well written, fast to read and has interesting ideas in it. You can read it in a week, a long flight or a rainy weekend.
Having studied German history for some time and being a German myself, I found this book very interesting. It give you a good overview of the most significant events in the central European history, which have forged the modern nation Germany.
The book contains some very interesting ideas and perspective on the German history. Surely the Rhine-Elba-East Elbia theory is worth a thought and surely has some truth to it. Also the approach on Prussian history and declive, the depth of the German society and the analysis on why the NS-State could exist and how this all has influence on the modern dynamic of Germany are well documented and interesting. Worth a read for sure.
I do not fully agree with the last thesis of the book. Seeing the Wiedervereinigung as a bad decision and something to reverse is surely more a radical left/right idea than a democrats approach. Using history to revise this is more in the camp of revisionist ideas than a modern democrat.
The book is well written, fast to read and has interesting ideas in it. You can read it in a week, a long flight or a rainy weekend.